Car-axle box.



Patented Ian. 30, I900.

J. W. SKILTUN.

CAR 'AXLE BOX.

(Application filed Oct. 24, 1898. Renewed July 18, 1899.)

(N6 Model.)

Futon.

PATENT JOHN W. SKILT ON, OF DAYTONA, FLORIDA.

CAR-AXLE BOX.

STEOIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 642,376, dated January 30, 1900;

Application filed October 24, 1898. Renewed July 18, 1899. Serial No. 724,301. (No model.)

T0 at whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN W. SKILTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Daytona, in the county of Volusia, State of Florida, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Oar-Axle Boxes, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to car-axle boxes, and particularly to a dust-guard and lubricating device used in connection therewith.

The invention has for its object to provide a dust-excluding packing formed of dry elastic material and retained in position by means hereinafter described.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved construction of lubricating device embodying reservoirs upon opposite sides of the axle and means for conveying the lubricant from said reservoirs to the axle.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear in the following description, and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents a lon gitudinal vertical section through an axlebox. Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-section through the dust-excluding packing material. Fig. 3 is a similar View through the lubricating device, and Fig. 4 is a detail perspective of the retaining-plate for the dust-guard,

Like letters of reference indicate like parts throughout the several figures of the drawmgs.

The letter A designates the usual axle or journal, which has its bearing within a boxtic materialsuch as wool, waste, or woodshavings of very thin character. These may be introduced and packed in position through the opening at the top of the compartment, which is closed by a plug 13, and the mate rial is retained in position by means of a retainingplate D, suitably cut away to fit around the axle and provided at its lower portion with pins D, to rest upon the top of the partition B and with overlapping ends D which extend behind said partition. This plate D when placedin position prevents the entrance of the packing into the front portion of the boxing and, in connection with the partition 13, retains the packing in a perfectly dry condition, so as to form a dust-guard of dry elastic material, which has been found most effectual in a boxing of this character, as it does not produce any friction upon the revolving axle and is not therefore liable to become ignited from overheating and in its closely-packed condition prevents the passage of cinders or other dust into the portion of the boxing where the lubricating device is located. The retaining plate D has been shown of sheet metal; but it may be constructed of a wire fabric or any suitable material adapted to retain the packing in position.

The lubricating device is composed of two reservoirs or chambers E, which extend longitudinally of the axle A, upon opposite sides thereof. These are similar in construction and are provided adjacent to the axle with a segmental face E, extending concentric to the surface of the axle and adapted to support and conduct a wick or strip E which may be of a felted or woven material, and is provided upon its face next the axle with a more loosely woven or fringed portion adapted to be thoroughly saturated with the lubricant, which is fed from the reservoirs by capillary action. The lower portions of these boxes are reduced in diameter, as at E ,whereby the gravity of the boxes causes the upper ends thereof to rest with a gentle pressure against the wick and axle. This insures a contact between the parts, and if for any reason, such as the rapid rotation of the axle or the diminished body of oil, the weight of the reservoirs is not sufficient to properly cause the same to fall toward each other this action may be assisted byalight spring F, connected to the opposite reservoirs at each end. It will be observed that this construction of lubricating device feeds the wick or felt from each end, and thus insures a thorough lubrication of the axle, while the construction of reservoirs and their arrangement prevent wasting of the oil and insures a contact between the wick or felt and the axle.

It is obvious that changes in the construction and configuration of the details of the several parts may be made without departing from the spirit of this invention as defined by the appended claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

1. The combination with an axle and a box therefor havinga transverse partition to form packing and lubricating chambers, of oppo-' ing therefor, of oppositely-located reservoirs.

having portions concentric with the axle, and means causing said reservoirs to move toward each other; substantially as specified.

4. The combination with an axle and boxing therefor, of reservoirs upon opposite sides of said axle and provided with bases of less diameter than their upper portion, an absorbent material extending from one of said reservoirs to the other; substantially as specified.

5. The combination with an axle and boxing therefor, of reservoirs upon opposite sides of said axle and provided with bases of less diameter than their upper portion, an absorbent material extending from one of said reservoirs to the other, and a tension-sprin g connectin g said reservoirs; substantially as specified.

6. The combination with an axle and boxing therefor, of reservoirs upon opposite sides of said axle and provided with bases of less diameter than their upper portion, and a conducting-wick having a loosely woven or fringed surface next the surface of the axle; substantially as specified.

7. The combination with an axle and boxing therefor, of reservoirs upon opposite sides of said axle and provided with bases of less diameter than their upper portion, an absorbent material extending from one of said reservoirs to the other, a tension-sprin g connecting said reservoirs, said reservoirs having segmental faces concentric to the axle; sub stantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN W. SKILTON.

Witnesses:

JOHN J AOKSON, ADOLPH RAPHAEL. 

